Association of Pain History and Current Pain With Sagittal Spinal Alignment and Muscle Stiffness and Muscle Mass of the Back Muscles in Middle-aged and Elderly Women

[Study Design] A cross-sectional study. [Objective] To investigate the association of low back pain history (LBPH) and LBP with sagittal spinal alignment, stiffness assessed using ultrasonic shear wave elastography, and mass of the back muscle in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly women. [Summary of Background Data] The association of LBPH and LBP with sagittal spinal alignment, stiffness, and mass of the back muscles remains unclear in middle-aged and elderly women. [Participants and Methods] The study comprised 19 asymptomatic middle-aged and elderly women [control (CTR) group], 16 middle-aged and elderly women with LBPH (LBPH group), and 23 middle-aged and elderly women with LBP (LBP group). Sagittal spinal alignment in the standing and prone positions (kyphosis angle in the thoracic spine, lordosis angle in the lumbar spine, and anterior inclination angle in the sacrum) was measured using a Spinal Mouse. The stiffness of the back muscles (lumbar erector spinae and multifidus) in the prone position was measured using ultrasonic shear wave elastography. The mass of the back muscles (thoracic and lumbar erector spinae, lumbar multifidus, and quadratus lumborum) was also measured. [Results] Multiple logistic regression analysis with a forward selection method showed that the stiffness of the lumbar multifidus muscle was a significant and independent factor of LBPH. The stiffness of the lumbar multifidus muscle was significantly higher in the LBPH group than in the CTR group. Multiple logistic regression analysis also indicated that lumbar lordosis angle in the standing position was a significant and independent factor of LBP. The lumbar lordosis angle was significantly smaller in the LBP group than in the CTR group. [Conclusions] Our results suggest that LBPH is associated with increased stiffness of the lumbar multifidus muscle in the prone position, and that LBP is associated with the decreased lumbar lordosis in the standing position in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly women

Interaction between human lymphoblastoid interferon and chemotherapeutic agents in vitro.

The combined effect of human lymphoblastoid interferon (HLBI) and anticancer agents on the growth of MOLT-4 was studied in vitro. The interferon showed a strikingly synergistic interaction in combination with aclarubicin, cytosine arabinoside or prednisolone. It was moderately synergistic in combination with adriamycin or 5-fluorouracil and tended to show additive effects with daunorubicin or vincristine. In vitro studies of combination chemotherapy with interferon and anticancer agents should yield valuable information as to the best combination for man.</p

ヒドウジョウミャク オ オンゾン シタ ヒオンゾン ビソクスイ セツジョジュツ ショウカカン ニュウセン シュジュツゴ ノ ヒゾウ ノ タイセキ ヘンカ

Aim: There is a paucity of information about changes in splenic volume after surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate postoperative changes in splenic volume（SV）and the factors influencing SV after spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy（SPDP）with conservation of the splenic artery and vein （CSAV）, and after surgery of the digestive tract and breast.Methods: We investigated 113 patients who underwent SPDP with CSAV（n=7）, breast surgery （n=24）, colorectal surgery（n=45）, distal gastrectomy（n=27）and total gastrectomy（n=10）. SV changes were determined for three years after surgery using volumetry based on computed tomographic imaging, and splenic vein diameter changes after SPDP with CSAV were also determined.Results: Splenic vein diameter after SPDP with CSAV did not change during 3 years. SV did not change significantly during 3 years after SPDP with CSAV and distal gastrectomy. After breast and colorectal surgery, and total gastrectomy, SV was decreased.Conclusions: Postoperative SV changes differed according to the type of surgery. SV did not change significantly during 3 years after SPDP with CSAV

Superoxide anion (O2-) production by neutrophils in refractory anemia with excess of blasts.

The O2- production by neutrophils was examined in 4 cases of refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB) in order to evaluate the possible causes of enhanced susceptibility to infection and to gain some informations on the differentiation of neutrophils in this hematological disorder. In three of the four RAEB cases there was little O2- production by neutrophils, in addition to there being morphological anomalies of the neutrophils such as a Pelger-Huet-like anomaly, granular deficiency and binucleated cells. These results suggest that the impairment of O2- production by neutrophils in RAEB is one of the possible causes of susceptibility to infection and also suggest that the differentiation of neutrophils in this hematological disorder is faulty. The estimation of O2- production by neutrophils may be a useful diagnostic method for preleukemia.</p

Adeno-Associated Virus as an Effective Malaria Booster Vaccine Following Adenovirus Priming

An ideal malaria vaccine platform should potently induce protective immune responses and block parasite transmission from mosquito to human, and it should maintain these effects for an extended period. Here, we have focused on vaccine development based on adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1), a viral vector widely studied in the field of clinical gene therapy that is able to induce long-term transgene expression without causing toxicity in vivo. Our results show the potential utility of AAV1 vectors as an extremely potent booster vaccine to induce durable immunity when combined with an adenovirus-priming vaccine in a rodent malaria model. We generated a series of recombinant AAV1s and human adenovirus type 5 (AdHu5) expressing either Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) or P25 (Pfs25) protein. Heterologous two-dose immunization with an AdHu5-prime and AAV1-boost (AdHu5-AAV1) elicited robust and durable PfCSP- or Pfs25-specific functional antibodies over 280 days. Regarding protective efficacy, AdHu5-AAV1 PfCSP achieved high sterile protection (up to 80% protection rate) against challenge with transgenic Plasmodium berghei sporozoites expressing PfCSP. When examining transmission-blocking (TB) efficacy, we found that immunization with AdHu5-AAV1 Pfs25 maintained TB activity in vivo against transgenic P. berghei expressing Pfs25 for 287 days (99% reduction in oocyst intensity, 85% reduction in oocyst prevalence). Our data indicate that AAV1-based malaria vaccines can confer potent and durable protection as well as TB efficacy when administered following an AdHu5 priming vaccine, supporting the further evaluation of this regimen in clinical trials as a next-generation malaria vaccine platform

Experimental and clinical studies on interferon and its inducers Part 1. Effects of interferon and its inducers on neutrophil chemiluminescence

To evaluate one the effects of interferon (IFN) and its inducers on neutrophil functions neutrophil chemiluminescence (ChL) was assayed on 31 healthy individuals, nine patients treated with IFN-α (human lymphoblastoid interferon, 3×10(6)units/day i. m. daily) and 11 patients treated with Ge-132 (2,250mg/day p. o. daily). The base lines (BLs), peak levels (PLs) and times to PLs (PLs) of neutrophil ChL were examined before, one week and one month after the treatment. The direct effects of IFN-α, Ge-132 and OK-432 on neutrophil ChL were also evaluated by using an in vitro experimental system. PLs were significantly increased one week after the treatment with IFN-α or Ge-132. However, they were decreased to the pretreatment level one month after the treatment. In vitro experimental system IFN-α enhanced PLs of neutrophil ChL showing dose and time dependencies. On the other hand Ge-132 and OK-432 showed no direct effect on neutrophil ChL in vitro. These findings suggest that IFN-α and Ge-132 enhance the host defense mechanism by the activation of neutrophil functions, and also suggest that they have some benefits not only in the clinical management of cancer but also of chronic infection

Experimental and clinical studies on interferon and its inducers Part 2. β-carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) in the management of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia patients at remission phase

The clinieal of Ge-132 in the management of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) patients at remission phase were studied. Twenty-two ANLL patients with complete remission were randomized into Groups A and B. Patients in Group A were treated with the combianation with Ge-132 (2,250mg/day ; p. o daily) and intermittent-alternating chemotherapy 〔daunorubicin, vincristine, cytosine arabinoside and prednisolone (DVCP)/aclarubicin vincristine cytosine arabinoside and prednisolone (AVCP)〕and patients in Groyp B were treated with intermittent-alter nating chemotherapy (DVCP/AVCP) alone. Evaluable patients were 7 in Group A and 10 in Group B. Remission duration and survival time were not significantly different between Groups A and B. (median remission duration ; 5.7 month in Group A vs 8.1 month in Group B/median surival time ; 23.9month in Group A vs 18.3month in Group B) The rates of second remission in relapsed cases were not significantly different between Groups A and B.〔2 of 7,(28.6%) in Group A vs 3 of 10,(30.0%) in B〕Ge-132 did not accelerate the recovery from myelosuppression after intensification with the DVCP regimen. The incidence of liver damage and levels of serum GOT and GPT tended to be lower in Group A than in Group B. In this clinical study the incidence of liver damage tended to be lowere in patients treated with Ge-132. The liver damage which often develops during intensificantion chemotherapy, not only limits the chemotherapy but also causes adverse effects on the quality of life of the patient. In part 1 of this series, Ge-132 was reported to activate the neutrophil chemiluminescence. Ge-132 seems to be useful in the management of ANLL patients not only by the enhancement of the host defense system but also by the prevenation of liver damage

Association between physical function and the load pattern during stepping-up motion in community-dwelling elderly women

Objective: Stepping-up motion is challenging task for elderly people in daily life. The present study investigated the relationship between the load pattern during stepping-up motion at maximum speed and physical function in elderly women. Methods: The subjects comprised 109 community-dwelling elderly women (age 72.5 ± 5.3 years). The load pattern (maximum load, rate of load production, and stepping-up time) during ascending a 30 cm step at maximum speed was measured, using a step up platform that measures the load at the lower and upper level. Physical function, including hip and knee extensor strength and performance on the vertical jump test, one-legged stance test, timed “Up & Go” (TUG) test, and stepping test were measured. Results: Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that stepping-up time was correlated with the maximum load at the lower level (r = −0.51), but not with the maximum load at the upper level. A multiple regression analysis showed that hip extensor strength and performance on the vertical jump, TUG, and stepping tests were significant determinants of the load pattern during stepping-up motion in the elderly women. Conclusions: Our study revealed that rapid stepping-up ability was more closely related to the maximum load during push-off at the lower level rather than that during weight loading on the upper level, and that the load pattern during stepping-up motion in elderly women was associated with various physical functions such as the hip extensor strength, leg muscle power, dynamic balance function, and agility

Association of walking speed with sagittal spinal alignment, muscle thickness, and echo intensity of lumbar back muscles in middle-aged and elderly women

Background: Age-related change of spinal alignment in the standing position is known to be associated with decreases in walking speed, and alteration in muscle quantity (i.e., muscle mass) and muscle quality (i.e., increases in the amount of intramuscular non-contractile tissue) of lumbar back muscles. Additionally, the lumbar lordosis angle in the standing position is associated with walking speed, independent of lower-extremity muscle strength, in elderly individuals. However, it is unclear whether spinal alignment in the standing position is associated with walking speed in the elderly, independent of trunk muscle quantity and quality. The present study investigated the association of usual and maximum walking speed with age, sagittal spinal alignment in the standing position, muscle quantity measured as thickness, and quality measured as echo intensity of lumbar muscles in 35 middle-aged and elderly women. Methods: Sagittal spinal alignment in the standing position (thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sacral anterior inclination angle) using a spinal mouse, and muscle thickness and echo intensity of the lumbar muscles (erector spinae, psoas major, and lumbar multifidus) using an ultrasound imaging device were also measured. Results: Stepwise regression analysis showed that only age was a significant determinant of usual walking speed. The thickness of the lumbar erector spinae muscle was a significant, independent determinant of maximal walking speed. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that a decrease in maximal walking speed is associated with the decrease in lumbar erector spinae muscles thickness rather than spinal alignment in the standing position in middle-aged and elderly women